Directed by Youssef Chahine, Written by Hassan Fuad from the novel by Abderrahman Sharkawi
Cinematography by Abdelhalim Nasr
Edited by Rashida Abdel Salam
Original music by Ali Ismail
Egypt, 1969, Misr International Films, DVD, color, 130 min
Arabic with English subtitles

The Centre for Possible Studies is hosting Direct Speech Acts II, a programme of experimental workshops exploring the relationship between political speech and action initiated by members of film collective no.w.here, Karen Mirza and Brad Butler and led by theatre director Frances Rifkin involving activists, artists and members of the Migrant Resource Centre. The theatre group are preparing for a political theatre piece that will be presented in 2012.

Theatre group participant and artist Karem Ibrahim will host January’s Free Cinema School Salon. Marking a year since Egypt’s ‘day of rage’ on Tuesday 25 January 2011, where millions took to the streets to oppose President Hosni Mubarak’s regime, the Salon will feature a screening of the late Youssef Chahine’s Al Ard (The Land). Produced in 1969, Al Ard tells the story of a group of Egyptian peasants or fellahin, struggling to retain their land and a sense of solidarity in the face of the landed gentry’s attempts to usurp it and maintain oppressive rule. By emphasising solidarity, Chahine indicates what he considers the only way the fellahin (peasants) have a chance at getting their rights, although it is the struggles of fragmenting unity which drive the latter parts of the film. Considered by many critics to be Chahine’s finest film, it is one which mirrors many of his views of his native country. With elections underway in an Egypt ruled by military forces, Karem Ibrahim will discuss the film’s themes of political speech, struggle and action.

Upcoming Free Cinema School Salons will visit the history of political theatre in Brazil and the UK and their filmic counterparts.

This Friday 27th January from 12-8.30pm the Centre for Possible Studies hosts artists, performers and writers from Fabelist who have been working with residents of the Church Street neighbourhood, NW8, in response to planned redevelopment of the area. Imprint is an exhibition and collaborative arts project inspired by the stories of the Church Street neighbourhood staged in a range of media, from music to gastronomy. Throughout the day a series of activities, performances and storytellers will take over the Centre for Possible Studies, culminating in music and theatre performances.

The Imprint installations will be on view at the Centre for Possible Studies from 1-5pm from Tuesday 31 January – Friday 3 February 2012.